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Instagram Will Ride the NFT Wave 🌊
Instagram will soon have non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on its platform, said Mark Zuckerberg in a conversation at the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW).
“We are working on bringing NFTs to Instagram in the near term,” said Meta founder and CEO in a conversation with Shark Tank’s Daymond John.
“I’m not ready to announce exactly what that’s going to be today, but, over the next several months, the ability to bring some of your NFTs in, and hopefully over time be able to mint things within that environment,” Zuckerberg added.
While Zuckerberg did not provide detailed information, he characterized the integration of NFTs into Instagram as something on the way once the photo and video sharing app team works out on some of the technical challenges.
Earlier in December 2021, Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said that the company was actively exploring NFTs to offer the technology to a wider audience.
And the company CEO’s confirmation shows Meta’s (parent company of Instagram) broader vision of offering a lucrative interconnected virtual world with a variety of digital products.
After Nvidia Deal Falls Through, UK Chipmaker Arm to Slash ✂ up to 1,000 Jobs
British semiconductor and software design company Arm is planning to slash 1,000 jobs or nearly 15% of its workforce, just over a month after the collapse of its $40 billion deal with Nvidia.
The SoftBank-owned company, which employs more than 6,500 people worldwide, including 3,000 in the UK, said most of the job losses, totaling up to about 1,000 roles, would be in the U.S. and the U.K.
“Like any business, Arm is continually reviewing its business plan to ensure the company has the right balance between opportunities and cost discipline. Unfortunately, this process includes proposed redundancies across Arm’s global workforce,” the company said in a statement.
In February, SoftBank had confirmed that it planned to make Arm public in an attempt to recover some of the losses, following the failed acquisition.
The company said that these layoffs are part of that plan to lower costs and maximize appeal to investors ahead of its initial public offering (IPO).
Blockchain Software Developer ConsenSys Nabs $450 Million in Series D Funding 💰
ConsenSys, a creator of foundational software for Web3 and MetaMask wallet provider, has raised $450 million in its Series D funding round, at a valuation of over $7 billion.
The funding was led by ParaFi Capital and also saw the participation of new investors, including SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Temasek, Microsoft, Sound Ventures, Anthos Capital, and C Ventures. Existing investors Marshall Wace, Third Point, UTA VC, and TRUE Capital Management also participated in the funding round.
Founded in 2014 by Joseph Lubin, ConsenSys is a New York-based Ethereum software company enabling developers, enterprises, and people around the world to build next-generation applications, access the decentralized web, and more.
ConsenSys plans to convert the fresh funds into ETH to rebalance the ratio of ETH to USD-equivalents in line with ConsenSys’ treasury strategy.
The funds will also be used to support the rapid expansion and redesigning of MetaMask, in addition to the launch of a plug-in extensibility system that will allow integration with a wide variety of accounts security schemes and blockchain protocols.
Blinkit to Merge With Zomato 🤝 in Share-Swap Deal at $700M-$750M Valuation
Online food delivery platform Zomato and grocery delivery platform Blinkit (formerly Grofers) have reached an agreement for a merger in a share swap deal, which will likely value the latter at around $700-750 million.
The merger comes at a time when the instant grocery delivery platform has been struggling to raise funds from new or most of its existing investors for several quarters.
While both the companies are yet to finalize the details of the deal, it is expected that shareholders of Zomato would get 10 Blinkit shares for each held in their company.
This would value Blinkit at around $700-800 million, based on Zomato’s current market capitalization. However, this amount is lower than Blinkit’s previous valuation of a little over $1 billion.
The proposed share-swap deal would result in Blinkit's biggest investor, SoftBank Vision Fund, getting a stake in the food delivery firm. Tiger Global, which is an existing investor in Zomato, would also increase its stake after the merger.
Zomato will be approaching the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for approval of the merger soon.
Around the Web 🌐
African Fintech 4G Capital Raises $18.5 Million in Series C: 4G Capital, a Kenya-based fintech company that provides unsecured credit to micro-enterprises, has raised $18.5 million in its Series C funding round. The company plans to use the proceeds to scale its operations, invest in data science enhancements for its evaluation algorithm, and grow its management team in evolving its core banking system.
If you like the content in this newsletter, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll like my podcast, “Success Story”, where I unpack the playbooks of entrepreneurs, executives and other high performing individuals.
Latest Episode 👇
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Mobile versions for Weibo, China’s version of Twitter and WeChat, are some of China’s most popular phone applications. But a new app has emerged that has users pulling away from such social media apps -- on purpose.
The “Early to Bed” phone app, currently only available to Android users, is the newest method to help Chinese people who are addicted to their mobile devices and are losing sleep as a result. China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that the app is gaining popularity among people who unintentionally lose sleep by spending time in bed browsing their social media accounts.
Users begin by setting a designated time to “sleep” their phone, at which point the phone is locked for two hours. Users can, however, postpone their “sleep” times, but the app sets off an alarm every five minutes after a designated time until the “sleep” command is hit. It also makes your struggle to disconnect public on social media; every time you delay the “sleep” command, a message is posted on a users WeChat page.
"The intention of the application, which makes use of the pressure from social circles to supervise the users, is to encourage young workers and students to return to the healthy habit of going to bed early,” Yang Yuan, the 23-year old Beijing-based developer of the application, told Xinhua.
The application specifically targets Chinese millennials, who feel the pressure to stay constantly connected and up-to-date. “I feel very tired when I leave the office every evening so I always tell myself that I have to go to bed early that night,” Xu Chenwei, a 26-year-old Shanghai bank clerk, said. “But the moment I lie down in bed, I pick up my cellphone to browse Weibo, WeChat, watch video clips or read novels. I feel that I haven’t fulfilled my daily tasks if I don’t do that before sleeping."
But it’s more than just millenials who are losing precious hours of sleep -- many are having a hard time disconnecting. According to China’s sleep index report, which was conducted by the Chinese Medical Doctor Association in March, 14 of every 100 Chinese people stay up past midnight, and the wide assortment of tablets and smartphones on the market have a lot to do with it.
The report shows that almost 70 percent of people in 20 different cities that were surveyed said that they used their phones or computers before going to bed, and among them, roughly half reported that they stayed up chatting online or playing games.
However, for the app’s developer, working on an Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone and iPad app is essential to keep people offline. “Even if the mobile phone is locked, people can switch to their iPad if they still want to chat online or play games,” Yang said.

domain: news


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Open-World RPG A Township Tale is Coming to Oculus Quest in July
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2021 kicks off today and while you might be glued to some of the bigger press conferences going on there are plenty of exciting indie announcements to look out for. One of which comes from Alta, the Australian developer behind virtual reality (VR) role-playing game (RPG) A Township Tale. Previously only available for PC VR headsets, today the studio has confirmed native support for Oculus Quest is on the way next month.
The expansive co-op RPG is set in a medieval fantasy world where players can team up with eight friends on one virtual server to go on adventures whilst offering all the traditional RPG elements you’d expect. However, unlike other RPG’s A Township Tale isn’t solely focused on fight after fight, instead, creating its own little world where players can adopt professions to aid everyone else.
That means players can choose to become blacksmiths, woodcutters, miners, archers and warriors to create unique groups to head out and explore dangerous locations and find new crafting materials. This then helps everyone through the creation of new tools and weapons whilst levelling up.
All these processes are fully built around immersive control schemes so players will have to chop down trees, hammer nails, pump the bellows of the forge and handcraft weapons. All so they can venture deeper into the valleys and caves to discover new secrets.
“From the moment the Quest was announced, the requests from fans started to roll in for a dedicated version of our game, even though the thought of delivering a world as expansive as A Township Tale to a standalone device seemed crazy,” said Boramy Unn, game director at Alta in a statement. “We began the process last year, and now on July 15 we’ll be launching A Township Tale on Oculus Quest, bringing to life a fantasy we’ve had since we were children: To truly embody the RPG characters we play in a fantastical world.”
When it comes to joining friends in-game, for the Oculus Quest launch A Township Tale won’t feature cross-play support with PC VR users.
A Township Tale will arrive for Oculus Quest on 15th July 2021 priced at $9.99 USD. With that purchase players get their own server and 1,000 Talems of in-game currency to start customising their characters. Check out the new Oculus Quest trailer below and for further E3 2021 updates, keep reading VRFocus.


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Sri Lanka’s steadfast commitment to strengthening its export-oriented economy through manufacturing is taking center stage at the 7th edition of the Complete Plastics Exhibition (COMPLAST 2023). The highly anticipated event is currently underway from August 25th to 27th, 2023, at the prestigious Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) Colombo’s. The collaboration between the Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka (PRISL), Smart Expos, and the Industrial Development Board has culminated in the successful realization of COMPLAST 2023. This unprecedented partnership underscores the collective efforts of these organizations to invigorate Sri Lanka’s industrial growth and enhance its global manufacturing footprint.
Under the theme “Shaping Innovation, Powering Progress,” the inauguration was presided over by Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, the Minister of Industries & Plantation Industries, signifying the country’s unwavering focus on industrial advancement. The opening ceremony features esteemed luminaries and dignitaries, with Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, the Deputy High Commissioner of India for Sri Lanka, gracing the occasion as the Special Guest of Honour. Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma, Chairman of the Industrial Development Board Sri Lanka, is also participating as the Guest of Honour, reflecting the event’s significance in fostering international collaborations and propelling industrial growth.
Over the course of three impactful days, the event is showcasing five concurrent exhibitions that are propelling the industry’s momentum to unprecedented levels. These exhibitions are:
RUBEXPO 2023: The 4th edition of the International Rubber Expo, which is showcasing a wide array of materials, machinery, and products integral to the rubber industry. COMEXPO 2023: The 4th edition of the Complete Manufacturing Expo, aimed at catalyzing the growth of the manufacturing sector by presenting cutting-edge technologies and solutions.TOFAS 2023: The inaugural Tools and Fasteners Expo, dedicated to hardware, tools, and fasteners, crucial components of the manufacturing landscape. MOPEEXPO 2023: Making its debut, the ultimate Motor Parts Expo is featuring spare parts, tires, batteries, and garage equipment. The MOPEEXPO is receiving extensive support from prominent industry associations, including the Sri Lanka Auto Component Manufacturers Association, Chamber of Automobile Professionals and Enterprises, and Lanka Motor Spare Parts Dealer Association.
The event is hosting an impressive roster of participants, surpassing 200 companies, including prominent representations from India, China, and Sri Lanka. The showcase is featuring over 50 Indian companies, 80 Chinese companies, and more than 80 local companies from across Sri Lanka, all of whom are exhibiting their innovative products and solutions.
Reflecting on the event’s significance, B. Swaminathan, CEO of Smart Expos India (Pvt) Ltd, notes, “In these dynamic times, nurturing an export-driven economy is of paramount importance. COMPLAST 2023 serves as an instrumental platform to spotlight Sri Lanka’s manufacturing prowess to a global audience. The event undoubtedly contributes to steering Sri Lanka’s economy towards sustainable growth through exports.”
COMPLAST 2023 is emerging as a landmark event that is bringing together key stakeholders from the manufacturing sector, providing a unique platform for the exchange of ideas, innovation, and exploration.
With robust support from industry leaders, distinguished guests, and enthusiastic participants, COMPLAST 2023 is marking a transformative event that solidifies Sri Lanka’s manufacturing prowess on the global stage.
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Early-access mega-hit PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is coming to Xbox One’s Game Preview program on December 12th, per a recent announcement from the developer.
The Xbox One release will coincide with the launch of version 1.0 on the PC in late December, though the developer has still yet to nail down a specific release date following its delay out of October.
Battlegrounds‘ launch on Xbox One will also mark the first time that Battlegrounds will offer in-game purchases on the Xbox One with the release of three limited-edition cosmetic packs. The PUBG Warrior Pack, PUBG Accessory Pack, and PUBG Tracksuit Pack will be standalone purchases only available through the Xbox One Game Preview version.
Another thing to note is that Battlegrounds will not be playable in 4K on the Xbox One X, though it will be “enhanced” and feature HDR.
Both PC and Xbox One versions of Battlegrounds “are being developed at the same time, but they both have their own separate roadmaps,” PUBG Corp. CEO Chang Han Kim stated in the release date announcement. “Various Xbox One features and functionality will change and come online over time just like they have on PC, with our goal being to have both versions align to each other as soon as possible.”
It will be interesting to see how the PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds formula translates to consoles, especially when it comes to mechanics like auto-aim. Meanwhile, publisher Bluehole, Inc. is in talks with Sony about bringing the battle royale game to PlayStation 4, though nothing has been confirmed yet.
Source: Xbox Wire


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The coronavirus epidemic may have a significant impact on the economies of China and the world, a deputy director of the Centre for Economic Strategy, Mariya Repko, has said at a roundtable "Coronavirus. Social and economic dimension" hosted by Gorshenin Institute.
"Analysts in the world model the behavior of economies and markets in relation to the coronavirus, based on the data from 2003 when there was an epidemic of SARS. The virus was quickly tamed and it did not have a significant effect on the economy, but the markets were a little 'rocked'. But now the situation is different because in 2003, China occupied only 4% of the global economy. Now it is 16% and China is the world's second largest exporter and the first importer. This is a huge country and any shakeup of the Chinese economy has consequences all over the world. According to Bloomberg, Hubei is responsible for a significant portion of Chinese GDP, where technology-based industries are concentrated. Because analysts are very worried. The basic scenario now is the one according to which SARS unfolded: a fairly quick victory over the virus. And if the first quarter of China's economy is lost, as soon as in the second quarter there will be a sharp increase. But no-one rules out the emergence of the "black swan": Moody's published a forecast in case of a global epidemic, according to which the first thing to be affected is commodity prices. China imports a lot of fuel, ore and metals. All of these are goods that are traded on world markets, and prices for these products can drop by half to a quarter of the current market," she said.
The expert also noted that the epidemic could affect the Ukrainian economy.
"The first channel of influence is the change in prices in commodity markets. Despite the fact that Ukraine sells most of its ore not to China but to Europe and the CIS countries, if the price of ore falls, our exports and metallurgists' gains will fall. In general, China is the main market for many groups of exported Ukrainian goods. There is also import. Ukraine purchases almost 100% of diodes, semiconductors, telephones, electronic devices and clothes from China. The epidemic will hit trade and, in general, this could have a positive effect on the positions of Ukrainian producers which can replace Chinese goods in consumer markets," she noted.


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Blog: Wal-Mart India JV responds to calls for lobbying probe
Michelle Russell | 12 December 2012
Wal-Mart's venture in India has moved to distance itself from allegations the US retail giant put pressure on India's government to relax rules on foreign investment in the country's retail sector.
The Indian government is reportedly considering a probe into claims Wal-Mart lobbied the country's politicians. India's government is pressing ahead with a reform of laws governing foreign investment in the retail sector. The new laws will allow foreign retailers to own 51% of multi-brand retail outlets.
The proposals have been voted through India's parliament but have still faced stiff criticism from some politicians and domestic retailers fearful that a wave of foreign investment will hit local jobs.
According to Reuters, Wal-Mart has disclosed it had paid US$25m over four years to lobby US legislators to help them gain access to overseas markets, including India.
The disclosure has resulted in Indian opposition politicians against Wal-Mart expanding further in India calling for an inquiry into whether any of the funds were spent the country.
However, in a statement today, Bharti Wal-Mart, the US retailer's wholesale and cash-and-carry venture in India, said the allegations that a routine US lobbying disclosure form reflects "improper conduct" on its part in India, is "false".
"This disclosure has nothing to do with political or governmental contacts with India Government officials. It shows that our business interest in India was discussed with US Government officials - along with 50 or more other topics during a three-month period."
The group said the disclosures on issues and expenditures are required under US law and that it was not unique to Wal-Mart.
"All organisations which expend more than $11,500 annually on lobbying activities and employ at least one lobbyist must register and file the quarterly reports. Our Washington office naturally had discussions with US Government officials about a range of trade and investment issues that impact our businesses in the US and worldwide and disclosed this in accordance with the law."
Wal-Mart is keen to make its mark in India's $450bn retail market.
In October, after the Indian government said it would relax rules on foreign investment, Wal-Mart said it had begun talks with partner Bharti Enterprises over the possible formation of a joint venture to roll out multi-brand retail stores in India.
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- BioScrip Inc. traded higher Tuesday after an analyst issued a "Buy" rating on the company's stock, saying the specialty pharmacy benefit manager is well positioned for growth.
THE SPARK: Jefferies analyst Brian Tanquilut started coverage of the Elmsford, N.Y.-based company with a $17 price target, stating that it has the potential to outperform investors' expectations over the next five years. Specifically, he expects the company to use funds from a recent stock offer to acquire smaller companies in the drug infusion space.
THE BIG PICTURE: BioScrip distributes drugs used to treat chronic conditions including HIV, cancer, and the side effects of organ transplants. In 2012, the company sold its traditional mail order and pharmacy business to focus on in-home health services, including the infusion of drugs.
THE ANALYSIS: Tanquilut noted that BioScrip raised about $120 million in April through the stock sale. While some of that money was used to pay off debt, the analyst says that BioScip "is currently sitting on a sizable cash position that we expect management to deploy fairly quickly."
Tanquilut's firm, Jefferies, acted as book runner for the BioScrip stock offer that wrapped up April 19.
SHARE ACTION: Shares of BioScrip Inc. rose 49 cents, or 3.7 percent, to $13.70 in afternoon trading. It has changed hands between $6.14 and $14.73 in the past 52 weeks, and started the session up more than 27 percent in 2013.


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Can this rapidly expanding chip manufacturer maintain its stellar performance on the stock market over the long term?
Over the past five years, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD -0.60%) has excelled in the stock market, greatly increasing investors’ wealth thanks to strong growth in the data center and personal computer (PC) markets, which has assisted in boosting revenue and earnings at a remarkable rate.
A $100 investment in AMD stock five years ago, for instance, is today worth more than $800. But will AMD be able to sustain this amazing growth over the following five years? Let’s investigate.
Sales have increased by about four times in the past five years, and AMD’s market value is at slightly over $138 billion. Compared to its market valuation of $18 billion in 2018, that is a huge increase.
Given the enormous increase in its business, this exceptional growth seems justified. AMD’s yearly revenue in 2022 was $23.6 billion, which is 3.6 times its $6.5 billion revenue in 2018. That significant increase can be attributed to AMD’s increases in market share for PC CPUs and the company’s expanding clout in the server processor industry.
At the end of 2017, Intel (INTC) reportedly held a commanding 0.79% of the server market, with AMD supposedly holding barely 0.8% of the market. However, in recent years, it has found its stride again and, according to Counterpoint Research, ended 2022 with a 20% share. It’s important to note that AMD increased its market share in servers by 8% just last year.
The microprocessor market has shown secular growth, increasing from $41 billion in revenue in 2012 to $108 billion in 2022, which has helped the corporation. The good news for AMD is that its target markets will continue to expand.
It won’t be shocking to see the corporation wrest additional market share from Intel, which is more significant. The revenue and earnings of AMD may increase quickly as a result of these two variables.
The future of the chipmaker is promising.
When it comes to multibillion-dollar markets like those for server chips, AMD is just beginning. The company’s data center division brought in $6 billion in revenue in 2022, but AMD believes there is a $42 billion long-term opportunity in this sector. The business has constantly improved its server processors while developing new products, which has helped it stay ahead of Intel.
The fifth-generation Epyc server CPUs from AMD are made utilizing a 5-nanometer (nm) process node, which enables them to perform significantly better than the prior generation. With the release of its Turin server processors in 2024, which are anticipated to be built on 4nm and 3nm processes, the chipmaker is anticipated to advance even further.
The Granite Rapids server CPUs from Intel, which could be released in 2024, are anticipated to be made utilizing a 5nm process. With a smaller process node, AMD would be able to fit more transistors onto a smaller die, increasing processing power while consuming less power. It won’t be shocking to see AMD overtake Intel in the enormous server processor market as a result.
Wall Street experts concur, with Vivek Arya of Bank of America predicting that AMD’s server market share may eventually reach 35%. Additionally, the business increased its addressable market by acquiring Xilinx last year.
AMD now has access to the adaptive computing and embedded chip sectors, creating a $135 billion in new revenue opportunities. AMD will be able to access numerous industries thanks to Xilinx, including data centers, artificial intelligence, and the auto industry.
The fact that AMD’s revenue and earnings are anticipated to increase over the next few years is due to all of these triggers.
Management stated that it anticipates long-term annual sales growth of 20% during the company’s 2022 investor day in June of the previous year. At the end of the projected period, revenue may increase to $47 billion if AMD’s top line grows at a rate of even 15% annually.
If AMD’s current price-to-sales ratio, which is 5.8, which is less than its five-year average sales multiple of 7.2, were multiplied by the anticipated revenue, it would result in a market capitalization of $273 billion, or over twice as much as it is currently worth.
But given the profitable markets AMD serves, don’t be shocked to see it expand more quickly. Given this, investors might wish to purchase this tech company and stick onto it for the following five years given the possible rewards.


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Threads, the new Meta-owned social media app that launched on Wednesday, is asking people if they want to “get help” finding drug treatment resources from a federal agency if they search for posts about “marijuana” or psychedelics like “psilocybin” or “ibogaine.” But searches for content about other drugs that are linked to serious addiction and death like alcohol and tobacco come with no such warning.
As tens of millions of users flock to the Twitter alternative, which is tied to Meta’s existing Instagram app, drug content flag seems somewhat inconsistent when it comes to which substances it identifies as potentially problematic. Search “marijuana,” select psychedelics or the opioid “fentanyl,” and this is what you get:
“This May Be Associated with the Sale of Drugs.
The sale, purchase, or trade of illicit drugs can cause harm to yourself and others and is illegal in most countries. If you or someone you know struggle with substance abuse, you can get help through confidential treatment referrals, prevention, and recovery support.”
It then gives users the option to “get help” via the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) or “see results anyway.”
Other drug terms that elicit the warning include MDMA, peyote, Vicodin, Percocet, Adderall, Xanax, meth, heroin and DMT.
But searching for things like “beer,” “cigarettes” and “liquor” presents app users with no such prompt about drug treatment resources.
Interestingly, the app doesn’t seem to have a filter that offers treatment resources when people search “cannabis” or the psychedelic “ayahuasca.” It’s not clear why they’re treated differently on the app, though cannabis can also refer to federally legal hemp, which may explain the distinction in that case.
Marijuana Moment reached out to Meta for clarification, but a representative was not immediately available.
For people who’ve followed coverage of the overlap between marijuana and social media, this Threads development may sound familiar. Twitter took a similar step in 2020, cautioning users about “marijuana” searches as part of a partnership with SAMHSA. Alcohol and tobacco were similarly excluded from the search restriction.
But late last year, after being acquired by Elon Musk, Twitter suspended that practice. And it’s since updated its cannabis advertising policy, aiming to give cannabis businesses that are “certified advertisers” the ability to feature “packaged” cannabis products in the ad creative that’s promoted on the social media site.
The company generated headlines when it previously revised its marijuana policy in February, opening up advertising opportunities for cannabis companies to promote their brands and campaigns, while allowing them to link back to their websites in select legal states.
Threads, meanwhile, is being touted as a superior alternative to Twitter as that app continues to encounter glitches and major policy upheavals such as temporary limitations on the number of posts a person can see. But it evidently is taking a page from its competitor’s history. Clicking the “get help” option on Threads also leads to a SAMHSA helpline page, but it’s unclear if there’s a formal partnership between the app and the federal agency.
For many, the restriction represents a stigmatizing double standard, with the marijuana plant being associated with addiction while “alcohol,” “vodka” and “whiskey” are unaffected by the policy.
But while users are able to get search results anyways if they take the extra step, the limitation also poses problems for companies, including media organizations, whose coverage of issues like marijuana and psychedelics reform, or even the opioid crisis and harm reduction efforts, are automatically hidden unless the user circumvents the filter.
Whether Threads follows Twitter and ultimately removes the feature is yet to be seen. In any case, Marijuana Moment is active on the app to try to get news across to new readers on the platform.
In other cannabis and social media developments, Google updated its policy as of January, making it so companies can promote Food and Drug Administration- (FDA) approved drugs containing CBD, as well as topical CBD products with no more than 0.3 percent THC.
However, Google restricts those ad opportunities to California, Colorado and Puerto Rico.
Video game streaming company Twitch, meanwhile, recently updated its branding policy for streamers, prohibiting promotions of marijuana businesses and products while explicitly allowing alcohol partnerships.
Interestingly, Twitch separately clarified rules last year in a way that was inclusive of cannabis—exempting marijuana-related references from the list of banned usernames, just as it does for alcohol and tobacco.
In an update to Apple’s iPhone software that was instituted last year, users were given an option to track medications and learn about possible drug interactions with other substances—including marijuana.
In 2021, Apple ended its policy of restricting cannabis companies from conducting business on its App store. The marijuana delivery service Eaze subsequently announced that consumers were able to shop and pay for products on its iPhone app for the first time.
Last year, New York marijuana regulators asked the social media app TikTok to end its ban on advertising that involves the word “cannabis” as they work to promote public education on the state’s move to legalize.
On the Meta-owned Facebook, state-legal cannabis businesses, advocacy groups and government entities like the California Bureau of Cannabis Control have complained of being “shadow banned,” where their profile pages do not show up on a conventional search. There were reports in 2018 that the social media giant would be loosening its restrictive cannabis policies, but it’s unclear what steps its taken to achieve that.
The same problem exists on Instagram, where people have consistently said that their accounts have been deleted by the app over marijuana-related content even if they weren’t advertising the sale, or promoting the use, of cannabis.
In contrast to Apple, Google’s Android app hub updated its policy in 2019 to explicitly prohibit programs that connect users with cannabis, no matter whether it is legal in the jurisdiction where the user lives.


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New business among a group of 25 equipment financing companies grew 9 percent in July to $9.9 billion, up from July 2020. Compared to June, new business volume dropped 5 percent from $10.4 billion.
The numbers are published in the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25). Year-to-date, cumulative new business volume was up nearly 9 percent compared to 2020, it reports. Credit approvals totaled 76.5 percent, down from 76.7 percent in June.
“Despite supply chain disruptions in some sectors of the economy, signs of inflation and emergence of the Delta coronavirus, July new business volume in the equipment finance industry is strong,” said ELFA president/CEO Ralph Petta in a prepared statement. “Consumer spending is picking up, equity markets continue to advance and unemployment is slowing—reasons to be optimistic about equipment investment and industry performance for the second half of the year.”


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Posted 九月 19, 2016
Huhtamaki North America plans to open a new manufacturing and distribution center in Goodyear, Ariz., to serve west coast foodservice packaging and retail tableware markets. When completed, the 750,000-square-foot facility will produce paper drink cups, insulated hot cups, food containers, pressed paperboard plates and thermoformed plastic cups and lids.
The company expects capital investment at the site to exceed $100 million over the next two years and result in the creation of approximately 300 jobs. The investment will cover building modifications, infrastructure and equipment installation.
"This is a further investment in our strategy to serve the foodservice packaging and retail tableware markets with core products," Clay Dunn, Executive Vice President, Huhtamaki North America. "The new facility will expand our footprint and will build off the success of our earlier expansions. The facility will not only grow our capacity, but improve our distribution capability in the region."
Huhtamaki will start using the facility as a distribution center in early 2017. Construction of infrastructure is expected to begin in Q2 2017. Commercial production is scheduled to begin in late 2017 and ramp up in 2018/2019. The facility was purchased from Cohen Asset Management, Inc.
Huhtamaki North America is a leading manufacturer of consumer goods packaging as well as tableware, cups, folding cartons, containers, carriers, trays and serviceware for the foodservice industry and retail markets.


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This whole thing began over a year ago when international hackers ran an advertising scam that was designed to take control of over 500,000 computers around the world. The F.B.I. busted the bad guys but realized if they shut the servers the crooks were using down all the victims would lose their internet service.
So, the F.B.I. set up several “clean” servers and took the hackers servers off line.
This was only a temporary fix and come Monday at 12:01 AM the feds are going to pull the plug on those servers. Experts don’t know how many computers are still infected.
There is a way you can check to see if your machine is infected. Click here and you’ll be taken to a site that will tell you what your computer’s status is.


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You are here
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. -- QuickChek Corp. announced today it has been named one of the Best Places to Work For in New York State for 2013. The convenience store retailer was recognized by the New York State Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and Best Companies Group, an independent company that has managed Best Places to Work programs around the country.
Companies from across New York participated in a process to identify, recognize and honor the Best Places to Work. The process consisted of an evaluation of each nominated company's workplace practices and policies, as well as extensive employee surveys to measure employee satisfaction and engagement. Best Companies Group then evaluated the data and ranked the nominated companies whose practices benefit New York's business, economy and workforce.
According to QuickChek, a typical new store averages 6,000 square feet in size and generates approximately $1 million in tax revenue and 30 new jobs.
Recently, the New Jersey-based c-store retailer also won the Best Places to Work in its home state, a ranking by NJBIZ magazine, for the third year in a row. In addition, Convenience Store News magazine recently reported that QuickChek CEO, president and chairman Dean Durling was inducted into the CSNews Hall of Fame recognizing top industry leaders
QuickChek operates 133 locations throughout New Jersey and Southern New York, including 12 pharmacy stores and 37 locations with fuel. After opening its first location in Florida, N.Y., in 2007, the chain has expanded to 11 New York locations and plans to add more. A new store in Goshen is scheduled to open in March, according to the company. The chain prides itself on its fresh food program featuring toasted subs, breakfast sandwiches and high quality coffee.
The company will be formally recognized at an awards dinner honoring the 2013 Best Companies to Work for in New York State on April 30, 2013 at the Albany Marriott.


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Jimboy’s Tacos plans three locations in OC—Huntington Beach. Brea, and Costa Mesa—as part of a 20-unit franchise plan for Southern California.
All American Taco Co. is the Southern California area developer.
Franchise disclosure documents filed in California in July show it costs $375,000 to $1.38 million to open a location.
Parent company Jimboy’s North America LLC had revenue of $2.3 million for the year-ended March 31, up 15% year-over-year.
The documents don’t give an average unit volume but its take includes $1.06 million in royalties, which are 5% of a franchise’s gross revenue. The numbers suggest a figure of $22.1 million for the 34 of 35 franchised locations open as of last year, for an AUV of $623,000.
The franchise fee for one location is $35,000; Area developers also pay $15,000 for each additional restaurant; AATC’s fees for its 20-location commitment totaled about $320,000.
The company charges another 5% of gross revenue for marketing and branding.
Jimboy’s was founded in 1954 and is based in Folsom. It has 38 locations, 35 of which are franchised; 75% are in California, with the rest in Nevada, according to franchise filings.
Its tacos use fresh beef and cheese and the tortilla is “dusted with Parmesan cheese,” a press release said.
The company wants national expansion and is “focusing on what makes Jimboy’s one of a kind, our tacos!” said Chief Executive Bob Andersen, in the release.
Two Jimboy’s had two company-owned locations in Texas—opened in 2015 and closed in 2016 and 2017; the chain plans to re-enter the state this year, with one company-owned and one franchised location.
A NorCal location in 2015 was going to be on Food Network’s host Guy Fieri’s TV show but that never took place; an October news report from Sacramento Business Journal said future Jimboy’s locations could include alcohol service, a la Irvine-based Taco Bell Corp.’s ‘cantina’ style restaurants.


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The couch was in a holding area of the thrift store.
As employees were about to move the couch, Tiny One ran out into the store. He ran around and explored a bit before letting the employees pick him up.
"This is the first time for this store and a first time for me," store manager Matthew Kemp said.
Employees were trying to figure out how to alert the owner that her cat was at the store.
"We usually give people their donation receipt and don't see them again," Kemp said. "We didn't know exactly what to think about it or do."
An employee suggested posting it to Facebook.
Arroyo saw the post and alerted her friend.
"I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, that's your cat -- you have got to call,'" Arroyo said. "'Rachel, youre cat is at the DI.'"
Barbbee came shortly after the post went up to claim her pet.
Arroyo said that despite the stress of the situation, she and her friend found humor in the situation: "It was pretty funny."


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Virtual cash in your pocket: soon a reality?
On 18 October 2023, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced the start of the preparatory phase for a digital euro. In practice, this doesn’t mean you’ll have the digital euro in your wallet tomorrow or that it will even see the light of day. What it does mean is that the ECB has kicked off the process to put in place the technical solutions and commercial agreements necessary to prepare for the possible issuance of a digital currency. The decision to issue a digital euro rests, like the decision to begin the preparatory phase, with the ECB’s Governing Council, once European lawmakers have worked out an appropriate legal framework.
A choice guided by the times
To fully understand the change a digital euro represents, we need to trace back the origins of money. From early exchanges of goods to coins minted from precious metals and modern banknotes, money has evolved towards more practical forms of payment to reflect the changing needs of our societies.
Today, the value of money depends on trust in the issuer, be it the state or a monetary authority such as a central bank. Over time, money has become a physical symbol of trust in the issuing authority, uncoupled from the physical value that once underpinned it. What would happen if we left behind the physical nature of money altogether? Developments such as crypto-assets, the metaverse and artificial intelligence are undoubtedly heralding a major shift towards the digital realm, and our currency must be ready to cope with this.
Continuity is the watchword
A digital euro would skillfully combine the fundamental features of euro cash, such as confidentiality, offline use, mandatory acceptance and European uniformity, with the amenities offered by new technologies. It could be used for all types of retail payments, including P2P transactions, in-store and online purchases, and even payments to public authorities. In short, it would be genuine virtual cash, which could be used for electronic payments in all circumstances - everywhere, for everything and with everyone - without ever having to wonder whether businesses accept it.
Digital AND confidential
The mere mention of digital technology obviously raises the thorny issue of balancing transaction security and the confidentiality of personal data, as privacy protection is a precondition for the adoption of a digital currency by the general public.
Confidentiality is at the core of the design of the digital euro. It will allow small payments to be made offline, thereby protecting your privacy in the same way as the anonymity offered by cash. Technically, your bank (or other payment service provider) would have no way of knowing to whom you have made a transfer, or the amount involved, when you are in offline mode. The only information at its disposal would be the amount available in your virtual wallet when you go offline and the amount when you return online. Everything that happens in between would be strictly confidential.
At the same time, transactions carried out online would benefit from the same level of confidentiality as regular electronic payments. Checks to identify potential criminal use of the digital euro would be carried out by your payment service provider, in the same way as is currently done for electronic payments. In the online mode, it would also be possible to carry out transactions that go beyond the maximum amount of digital euro a person can hold (a limit of €3,000 is currently being considered). In this situation, the shortfall or excess would be automatically debited from or credited to your (regular) bank account.
A farewell to notes and coins?
Does the potential arrival of the digital euro signal an end to cash? Not at all! At the National Bank of Belgium, we are convinced that cash will continue to be important, as demonstrated by our investment in a new cash centre in Zellik, on the outskirts of Brussels.
Furthermore, cash remains a central part of the economy, with European legislation currently being drafted to strengthen its status. This legal protection aims to harmonise the acceptance and use of cash across the euro area. The potential transition to a digital euro should be viewed as a harmonious changeover, during which the two forms of currency will coexist, with cash dispensers serving as a bridge between them, so as to offer maximum flexibility.
Will the digital euro ever become a reality? As stated at the outset, this project is still in its infancy so you’ll need to be patient to find out. In any case, whether you’re a technology enthusiast or simply curious about how the financial future is shaping up, the digital euro definitely deserves your attention: the history of money is riddled with challenges and opportunities, and it’s unlikely that this story will be any different!


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Urban Outfitters in Trouble for Selling Tapestry Resembling Holocaust Suit Worn By Gay Prisoners
Are you serious, Urban Outfitters? After being called out numerous times for selling merchandise that has offended everyone from the depressed to those victims of school shootings, the clothing retailer has struck again. This time it’s under fire for selling a tapestry that resembles the jumpsuit worn by gay Holocaust prisoners. I’m talking the stripes and the upside-down pink triangle—the whole shebang.
The Business Insider was all over the news:
ADL [the Anti-Defamation League, an anti-Semitism organization] has sent Urban Outfitters a letter, expressing its concern over the “insensitive design and the company’s periodic use of products within the realm of Holocaust imagery.”ADL national director and Holocaust survivor Abraham H. Foxman says in a press release on the organization’s website: “Whether intentional or not, this gray and white striped pattern and pink triangle combination is deeply offensive and should not be mainstreamed into popular culture. We urge Urban Outfitters to immediately remove the product eerily reminiscent of clothing forced upon the victims of the Holocaust from their stores and online”
At press time, the tapestry appears to have been removed from the Urban Outfitters website, though there is a “Triangle-Stripe Curtain” listed as being sold out. The tweet below shows the tapestry and original Holocaust suit side by side.


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Burger King Wraps Up $11B Tim Hortons Deal
NEW YORK ( The Deal) -- Burger King Worldwide
The announcement comes one day after the two restaurant chains confirmed they were in talks about a deal.
The deal puts more pressure on McDonald's
Oakville, Ontario-based Tim Hortons was once controlled by Burger King rival Wendy's
Tim Hortons shareholders have the option to receive C$65.50 in cash and 0.8025 shares of the new company for each share, or either C$88.50 in cash or 3.0879 shares of the new company.
Miami-based Burger King has received a $12.5 billion commitment from JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo Bank NA to fund the cash portion of the deal. Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has also committed $3 billion in financing.
3G Capital, which owned a 70% stake in Burger King before the deal was announced, will own a 51% stake in the new combined company by converting its shares into equity. The private-equity firm took Burger King private in 2010 for $4 billion then took it public again in 2012.
The new combined will operate more than 18,000 restaurants worldwide, across 100 countries and will have about $23 billion in combined sales.
"We are excited to build on this progress as we continue to expand Burger King around the world and look forward to working with and learning from Tim Hortons as we together create the world's leading global restaurant business," said Burger King CEO Daniel Schwartz in a statement.
"As an independent brand within the new company, this transaction will enable us to move more quickly and efficiently to bring Tim Hortons iconic Canadian brand to a new global customer base," added Tim Hortons CEO Marc Caira in a statement.
What this transaction does is "give us the chance to share with the world what Canadians already know and love," Caira said on a conference call with reporters on Tuesday. "We will be able to leverage a global network and learn from their experience" in building a strong global QSR brand.
"We are very confident that we can grow much quicker in this ... battle called the U.S.," Caira said later on the call.
Looking toward 3G Capital's investment in Heinz and Anheuser-Busch InBev , "these are the examples we hope to follow with this transaction," Caira noted. As bottles of Heinz ketchup and InBev's beer are household names, putting Tim Horton's coffee and boxes of doughnuts "in the hands of more consumers around the world -- that is what today's announcement is all about," he said. "It's about growth."


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Retail, ecommerce and catalog businesses have unique challenges, including competitive forces, internal infrastructure and dynamic, changing consumer behavior that make it necessary for them to take a renewed approach to marketing
Past News ReleasesRSS
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) August 8, 2006
Today at eTail 2006, NetPlus Marketing publicly announced results from a case study showing that Internet retail clients are seeing strong results using behavioral targeting (BT) as a strategic part of an integrated online marketing strategy.
Charming Shoppes, the nation's third largest specialty apparel retailer, has partnered with NetPlus for more than three years to build an unparalleled sales-driven online marketing and advertising program for a number of brands including the Lane Bryant women’s apparel division.
Almost two years ago, NetPlus began to strategically implement behavioral targeting elements to take Lane Bryant campaigns to the next level of growth, revenue and sales. After an initial increase of 3000 percent in online sales, the program has since evolved and continues to drive extraordinary success. Since the program was launched, overall online revenue for Lane Bryant has increased by over 4000 percent and conversions have increased almost 200 percent.
“Internet shoppers are a vast and diverse group of individuals, and it’s amazing how much advertising reaches people who would never purchase that particular product,” said Robin Neifield, CEO of NetPlus Marketing. “With behavioral targeting integrated into an overall campaign, retailers are able to reach the group of people most likely to purchase their products, which significantly boosts their conversions and revenue. The strategic introduction of BT into an already successful program contributed significantly to surpassing Lane Bryant’s existing aggressive revenue goals.”
Forrester Research believes that online sales in 2006 will increase 20 percent from last year, to more than $211 billion. According to a recent article in Fast Company, online retail may be the only kind that’s left in ten years. Behavioral targeting gives retailers the ability to better understand and build relationships with their customers, not to mention a cost-efficient way to reach their audiences on mid-tier and niche sites where the environment is less cluttered with competitors’ messages. These features and many more make behavioral targeting a must for retailers hoping to stay ahead of the curve in the market’s shift to online.
“Retail, ecommerce and catalog businesses have unique challenges, including competitive forces, internal infrastructure and dynamic, changing consumer behavior that make it necessary for them to take a renewed approach to marketing,” said Denise Zimmerman, president and chief strategy officer of NetPlus Marketing. “Today’s marketer can gain a competitive advantage with an integrated approach using behavioral targeting, search, email, media and others in concert to meet business goals. Until now, we have kept Lane Bryant’s successes and our proven methodology relatively under wraps for our clients to enjoy a significant market lead.”
Editor’s Note: Denise Zimmerman has been invited to chair the Marketing, Merchandising, and Visualization track at eTail today from 11:15 am until 4:45 p.m. As chairperson, Denise will deliver opening remarks at the beginning of the conference and moderate each section in the track, setting the tone and providing expert insight. For a complete list of panel discussions visit: http://www.wbresearch.com/etail/agenda.asp
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Enodis, the world's largest manufacturer of commercial foodservice
equipment such as ovens and mixers, reported better profits but
slightly worse sales due to the weak dollar, increased steel prices
and difficult UK and continental...
Pernod Ricard, the world's third largest wine and spirits group,
has reported a slight dip in sales for the first quarter of 2004.
The group's established brands performed well in the US and Asia
Pacific regions, but its...
Ongoing growth in cultures sales to the dairy industry and health
markets helped the Danish ingredients firm Chr Hansen post a modest
rise in revenue for the food ingredients division in the first six
months. Organic growth for the...
Number one flavours and fragrance firm Givaudan ambles along in the
first quarter with higher sales in flavours offsetting a drop in
the fragrance division, suggesting that strategies to boost profit
announced back in January this...
A substantial increase in goodwill amortisation costs pushed down
operating profits at Irish baked goods and agribusiness group IAWS
in the first half. But sales increased during the half, even after
the impact of currency movements,...
It's that time of year again. Companies are releasing their third
quarter results amid great fanfare, even if there isn't that much
to cheer about. The bottling industry in particular has had a
fairly difficult year, with...
Kellogg, the cereal and snacks maker, has raised its full-year
profit forecast after an excellent third quarter performance which
saw both sales and profits rise significantly. The gains came as a
result of new product launches, brand...
Schneider Electric, provider of power solutions to the food and
beverage industry, has fought off a slump in its sales figures to
record first half increases in both its operating margins and its
net profits. The company said that...
Dutch life science company DSM today posted a net profit of €959
million. Although DSM Fine Chemicals posted slightly lower sales
and a lower operating profit, attributable to the pharma products
and aspartame businesses, DSM Food...
Viskase Companies has announced a slight increase in its net sales
for the first quarter of 2003 financial, reflecting favourable
exchange rates for its European operations which have helped
stemmed company losses.


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OPPO’s next Find X flagship smartphone will be one of the first to be powered by the Premium Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform.
Leading global smart device brand OPPO today announced the launch of the new Reno8 series in Europe and Australasia.
OPPO announces UEFA partnership and a commitment to celebrate the beautiful game through “Inspiration Ahead”
Leading smartphone company OPPO has been awarded Consumer New Zealand’s Top Brand in the mobile phone category for the third year running.
OPPO has introduced its cutting-edge new flagship Find X5 Series, raising the bar on smartphone imaging and premium design.
Global smart technology company OPPO unveiled three new innovations at its annual OPPO INNO DAY 2021, headlined by its first foldable flagship smartphone, the OPPO Find N.
OPPO have announced their platinum sponsorship of the Wellington Phoenix in partnership with Spark New Zealand, which will extend over the next two years
OPPO, in partnership with Spark New Zealand, are proud sponsors of the Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand’s only professional football club.
We’re excited to see the OPPO Find X5 Pro in the hands of filmmakers who can show off the filming capabilities of the phone in a spectacular way and we can't wait to see their creations come to life.
OPPO’s premium flagship Find X5 Series received the world-renowned iF DESIGN AWARD 2022, recognising the human-centric and creative thinking behind the Find X5 Series’ ultra-thin ceramic coating, artistically present from the future.
OPPO and Orana Wildlife Park bring attention to endangered species in Aotearoa through photos captured on the Find X3 Pro
OPPO announced the launch of its Find X3 Series featuring the Find X3 Pro and Find X3 Lite into New Zealand
At OPPO, we won’t rest until you can hold the richest, most colourful experiences the world has to offer, in all their glory, in the palm of your hand
Leading smartphone manufacturer OPPO has been awarded Consumer New Zealand’s Top Brand title in the mobile phone category for a second year in a row
OPPO has unveiled its latest achievements following ongoing R&D around its fast charging technology at the 2021 OPPO Flash Charge Open Day "What's Next for Flash Charging" in China.
The OPPO Enco X True Wireless Noise Cancelling earphones were co-created in a first-ever partnership with premium Danish speaker manufacturer Dynaudio to produce acoustics that truly inspire.
Explore our innovative new concept products and learn how we‘re changing the future of technology.
New range features Reno Glow design and low light features for an exceptional photography experience
Find X2 Pro’s industry-leading display, tri-camera and fast charge redefines 5G flagships
OPPO announced the A94 5G, A74 5G, A54 5G to its popular A Series. These latest additions deliver premium, high-end features at an affordable price.
OPPO Watch enters wearables market sporting enviable features minus the pricetag


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- Publish Date
- Thursday, 24 September 2020, 9:28AM
We're a little over two weeks away from the release of Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory 20th Anniversary Edition Super Deluxe Box Set.
After being announced last month, the $200 box set is the perfect collector's item for any hardcore Linkin Park fan.
On Wednesday (September 23), Mike Shinoda gave fans their very first look at the box set in a new video where he went through the entirety of the contents.
“Very exciting,” he told the camera as he unwrapped the box set. “Let's take a look!”
As you'll see in the footage, the cover of the box set has the Hybrid Theory album artwork in a metallic gold on top of a matte black box.
To start, Shinoda showed off the massive book that's inside the anniversary set and even flipped through the pages so fans could get a peek at what's inside — which includes stories the band wrote specifically for the book.
“Tons of old photos… the photos we took to potentially include in Hybrid Theory,” he explained. “Some of these you've had very small versions of… it's awesome to have all this.”
Next, he revealed the prints the band members created for the box set before going into the huge poster of the late Chester Bennington. Following that, Shinoda talked about all the vinyls and CDs that are included.
“Thanks to everybody for supporting the band for all these years and being awesome, we are so grateful for you and we love you all,” he told fans at the end of the video.
The box set will be available October 9, about two weeks before the actual 20th anniversary of Hybrid Theory's original release. You can grab your copy HERE.
This article was first published on iheart.com and is republished here with permission


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Palm unveiled two new handsets, one new carrier and a raft of new app and software features at CES today. Both the Pre and the Pixi get refreshes, with a cleaner design (the central nav buttons have disappeared) and an exclusive new carrier in the US - Verizon Wireless.
The Palm Pre Plus has its internal memory doubled to 16GB and ships with an inductive back cover to work with the cool wireless Touchstone charger out of the box. The Pixi Plus will have Wi-Fi added, and be available in a range of primary colours.
The biggest changes, though, are on the software side. In February, a new over-the-air update to webOS will add Flash 10 Beta browsing and video recording. Added to that are an app database that's being opened up to all developers, a million-dollar bonus scheme for the most popular apps downloaded and plug-in development kit.
Sounds dull? Not when you see what the first developers have done with it: the pumped-up Pre will get some stunning 3D games from the likes of EA Mobile, Glu and Gameloft, including Sims 3 and a blistering Need For Speed: Undercover.
Gadget freaks aren't left out either. A new app called Mobile Hotspot promises to turn your Pre into a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five devices (although there will be some cost attached).
The new handsets go on sale here in the US in April, pricing TBC.


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North Korea and China have resumed freight train services after a five-month suspension due to the pandemic, South Korean media has reported.
A freight train travelled from the Chinese border city of Dandong to North Korea’s Sinuiju, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Monday.
Keep readinglist of 4 items
Trains had been suspended since April 29, after an outbreak of COVID-19 in Dandong.
It was not immediately clear if the train that crossed the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge on Monday marked the resumption of regular services, but Yonhap news agency quoted an anonymous source in China as saying trains would run one or two times a day.
China is North Korea’s main economic lifeline, normally accounting for more than 90 percent of its trade, but cross-border commerce has been sharply curtailed during the pandemic.
China’s trade with North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), plunged to $318m in 2021, down 90 percent compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to Chinese customs data.
Aid workers and analysts have warned that the country’s isolation has hammered its already fragile economy and exacerbated food shortages that have resulted in widespread chronic malnutrition.
North Korea’s economy shrank an estimated 0.1 percent last year, according to South Korea’s central bank, following a 4.5 percent decline in 2020.
Alastair Morgan, the United Kingdom’s ambassador to North Korea between 2005 and 2008, said the significance of the latest freight train service would depend on whether it marked the beginning of regular operations.
“A one-off shipment of, for example, medical goods and equipment or food would not be unprecedented,” Morgan told Al Jazeera.
“The resumption of regular freight shipments could be expected to support economic activity and availability of goods in the DPRK. The economic implications for China at a national level would be negligible. China in principle supports trade with the DPRK in non-sanctioned goods and favours the maintenance of stability in DPRK.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last month declared victory over the coronavirus, after authorities in the isolated country had reported about 4.8 million “fever cases” following an extensive outbreak in May. Kim, the third member of his family to rule the secretive state, has nonetheless acknowledged the hardships facing North Koreans, likening the pandemic to the 1950-1953 Korean War.
The North has reported just 74 COVID-19 deaths overall, a record doubted by experts given the country’s apparent caseload, lack of vaccine coverage and dilapidated health system.


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Cosmo Films has announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended March 2021.
During FY21, PAT has more than doubled (110 percent up from FY20) on the back of higher specialty sales, better operating margins, and uptick performance by subsidiaries, according to Cosmo.
FY21 ROCE and ROE stand at 22 percent and 30 percent respectively while EPS increased by 115 percent (vs PY) to 127 INR (1.74 USD) per share. Net debt at 4.3 billion INR (60 million USD) is close to 1 time to EBITDA.
Results for Q4 are even stronger than the first 3 quarters of the year driven by continued specialty films growth in Indian as well as overseas operations, the company said.
Commenting on the company’s performance, Pankaj Poddar, CEO, Cosmo Films, said: ‘Cosmo Films is a name to reckon globally for newer, innovative solutions. The specialty films sales have grown YoY in the last 3 years and the growth rate in FY21 surpassed 20 percent despite the base becoming larger each passing year reaffirming the company’s growth strategy through continuous investment in R&D, sales and marketing, employee practices, quality and customer satisfaction. The significant share of specialty films in the overall sales has made a strong foundation for Cosmo and will help the company do well even in the tougher times.
‘On the expansion front, construction of specialized BOPET line has started and is running as per plan even with significant Covid related challenges. The internal consumption for Masterbatch is growing continuously and the external sales will start soon.
The company has completed the development of several textile chemical products, each with specific USPs. These are currently under trials with textile manufacturers and processors. The commercial launch would follow in H1FY22. Pet care pilot launch will start in Q2 FY22 under the brand name “Zigly” and will provide a unique value proposition to pet parents across different channels.’


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John Abraham, whose production, Madras Cafe, released last week, has awed some of industry’s biggest names.
Filmmaker Karan Johar tweeted that Madras Cafe “is intelligent...well intentioned...spectacularly shot and edge of the seat!!... (sic)” and went on to tweet that “John Abraham (is) emerging as the new age producer of our times.....his brand value takes a giant leap”.
Amitabh Bachchan too tweeted: “Saw Madras Cafe.. such a wonderfully executed film ! Shoojit Sircar, your variety in Direction and Production is so commendable ! (sic)”


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Don't-Miss Printer Stories
Fuji Xerox will launch a new cloud storage service that hooks directly into its multifunction copiers next week, allowing documents to be uploaded by scan or...
Here, in detail, are the reliability measures and the service measures that we included in our 2011 survey.
If you need a bone, 3D-printed scaffold replacements may be around in the next 1-2 decades.
Millions of Hewlett Packard Co.'s LaserJet printers contain a security weakness that could allow attackers to take control of the systems, steal data from them and issue commands that could cause the devices to overheat and catch fire.
Electronics stores and other mass retailers are pulling out the pricing stops the day after Thanksgiving. Here's a chance to stock up on gadgets for work.
Forgo that future iPad purchase you’ve been thinking about and get a 3D printer instead.
Get a Pixma MX870 color inkjet multifunction printer from Adorama Camera for $161.
Want your ink cartridge to last longer? Inkgard sells an app for that--but its remanufactured cartridges' variable yields make the benefit uncertain.
Pay only $139 for a Canon Pixma MG6120 color all-in-one printer at Abe's of Maine--and shipping is free.
It’s not your father’s Polaroid, but the new 14-megapixel digital camera with a built-in photo printer harkens back to the popular Polaroid Spectra of the 1980s.


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A couple of new studies may help explain why:
In this land and season of plenty, low-income and rural Americans continue to have difficulty finding healthy foods that are affordable, a new study finds.
One study shows that low-income Americans now would have to spend up to 70 percent of their food budget on fruits and vegetables to meet new national dietary guidelines for healthy eating.
And a second study found that in rural areas, convenience stores far outnumber supermarkets and grocery stores -- even though the latter carry a much wider choice of affordable, healthy foods.
Read the whole story on Yahoo news here.
@TheGorgeousJR: "[It is] very inexpensive; we sell it at the shop. You can get it…
Where can you buy caul fat?
This looks amazing. However, I see a bell pepper on the counter, and bell pepper…
Love pork belly.
Some food just doesn't photograph well, even if it is tasty.
Nothing wrong with grease on the walls if the burger is tasty.


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Punjab allows home delivery of liquor during lockdown period
All liquor contractors who have deposited 50% of licence fee have been allowed to start operations, while others have been told to deposit the fee before they can start operations
Amid the deadly Coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 27 lives till date in Punjab, tipplers have certainly some good news to cheer. Now they can have ‘pegs’ of their preferred brands and choice at door-steps with the Punjab government on Wednesday deciding to start home delivery of liquor from Thursday onwards during the lockdown period.
Though the Punjab government had planned to start home delivery of the liquor in January this year, the decision finally took shape a couple of days ago amid the COVID crises. The state Excise and Taxation Department on Wednesday issued orders amidst a stand-off with the liquor contractors over starting home delivery.
The department has asked the liquor contractors, who were earlier reluctant, to facilitate home delivery of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), not more than two litres per order, but Punjab Made Liquor (PML or ‘desi’) would not be delivered home. While the liquor shops will remain open from 9 am to 1 pm the timings for home delivery is from 1 pm to 6 pm.
The orders of Excise and Taxation Department also say that the time for home delivery of liquor will also be decided by the respective deputy commissioners. Each licensing unit can designate only two persons for delivery of liquor, who will be issued a card by the excise officials concerned. Even the vehicle to be used will have to be notified and to allay fears of contractors that the facility could encourage liquor smuggling, the government has made it mandatory for delivery boys to carry cash memo of the liquor to be delivered.
All liquor contractors who have deposited 50 per cent of licence fee have been allowed to start operations, while others have been told to deposit the fee before they can start operations. The department has also issued directions to maintain social distancing among employees and customers queuing up outside the vends.
In an effort to generate some revenue during lockdown, Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh was the first Chief Minister to have written to Union Government seeking permission for opening of liquor vends. He had also mentioned that Punjab was losing revenue to the tune of Rs 520 crore (excise duty) every month since the lockdown as imposed.
Moreover, the home delivery of alcohol was allowed so that the social distancing could be maintained and to avoid seekers from standing in queues for long hours in front of wine and whisky shops.
The liquor contractors, however, are reluctant to open their vends till the government resolves the issues of reduction in licence fee. Apprehending huge profit margin, they wanted the government to extend their contract till May next year and charge licence fee on actual sale of liquor.
Going one step ahead, the Chhattigarh government has already started home delivery of the liquor and even set up a web portal for online sale of booze in green zones of the state. According to an official spokesperson, the Chhattigarh government has given permission for online sale of liquor to discourage crowding at the wine shops.


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Saudi Basic Fourth-Quarter Profit Drops 10% on Pricing, Misses Estimates
Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), the world’s biggest petrochemicals maker, said fourth-quarter profit dropped 10 percent, missing analysts’ estimates.
Net income fell to 5.24 billion riyals ($1.4 billion) from 5.81 billion riyals a year earlier, the Riyadh-based company known as Sabic said in a statement today. The mean estimate of seven analysts was for a profit of 7.56 billion riyals, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The decline was “mainly driven by a lower pricing environment in global markets for most of the products, despite an increase in sales volumes,” the company said in the statement. Kayan Petrochemical Co., a Sabic unit, said its fourth-quarter loss widened, while Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co. (YANSAB), another unit, reported fourth-quarter profit that missed estimates.
“The fundamentals have been strong in 2011, but in the fourth quarter prices and demand started to weaken,” Hans Zayed, head of research at Rasmala Investment Bank, said in response to e-mailed questions before the results were announced.
The shares declined 2.1 percent to close at 92 riyals today before the results were announced. The stock lost 8.1 percent last year compared with a 3.1 percent drop in Saudi’s benchmark Tadawul All Share Index.
Sabic Chief Executive Officer Mohamed al-Mady said he expects prices and demand for petrochemicals to improve toward the end of 2012. Last year “started good and slowed down a little bit toward the end of the year,” he said in a press conference today. “My prediction, hopefully, is that 2012 may be a mirror image of 2011. We are going to start slow then maybe pick toward the end of the year.”
Sabic’s fourth-quarter sales increased 14.6 percent to 47 billion riyals, Chief Financial Officer Mutlaq al-Morished told reporters in Riyadh today. Full-year sales gained about 25 percent to 190 billion riyals, al-Morished said.
The company’s earnings fell “due to lower chemicals prices across the board, which should more than offset strong fertilizers prices that prevailed during the quarter,” Ahmed Shams El Din, Cairo-based director of equity research at EFG- Hermes Holding SAE, said in an e-mail today.
Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co. (SAFCO), a unit of Sabic, said fourth- quarter profit rose 25 percent to 1.28 billion riyals from 1.03 billion riyals a year ago, according to a statement from the Jubail-based company on Jan. 11.
Sabic, the maker of fertilizers and plastics used for everything from packaging to car bumpers, has added output capacity through units and joint ventures. It seeks to triple production to 130 million tons by 2020.
The company signed a memorandum of understanding with China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (600028) to build a petrochemical plant in Tianjin, China, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Jan. 15. The companies will have annual polycarbonate capacity of 260 kilo metric tons from the plant when operations start in 2015, Sabic said yesterday in an e-mailed statement.
“In terms of new materials and products, China is the one that is on our radar screen,” al-Mady said.
Sabic has no plans to offer bonds this year, al-Mady said. The European debt crisis had “impacted our business,” al-Mady said. “When you have slow growth, you have low prices,” he said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Glen Carey in Riyadh at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at firstname.lastname@example.org


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ITF News Update: 11th to 17th June 2021
Shipping apes G7 to spread the word for seafarers | Lloyd’s List – 11th June
A parallel ‘M7’ group of shipowners’ associations also made a show of unity for the industry’s green research and development fund plan, and pushed for more digital documentation
The UK Chamber of Shipping is lobbying more for action on crewing, green shipping and digitalisation during the G7 meeting, saying the industry’s message is not getting through enough
13 Filipino seafarers stranded in China for months seek help | CNN Philippines – 14th June
The Magsaysay Maritime Corporation says they have engaged lawyers to represent the 13 Filipino seafarers who’ve been stranded in China for 17 months now.
Congestion at South China ports worsens on anti-COVID-19 measures | Reuters
Congestion at container shipping ports in southern China is worsening as authorities step up disinfection measures amid a flare-up in COVID-19 cases, causing the biggest backlog since at least 2019.
Ports Refuse Access to Another Ship Carrying Body of Deceased Captain | G Captain – 14th June
Efforts are underway to repatriate the deceased Romanian captain of the cargo ship M/V Vantage Wave after seven weeks and refusal by multiple States to disembark the body. The ship now faces food and water shortages as it awaits orders at an anchorage in China, the group Human Rights at Sea reports.
Fresh Covid-19 outbreaks in Asia disrupt global shipping, chip supply chain | Hellenic Shipping News – 14th June
As Western economies roar back to life, a fresh wave of Covid-19 clusters in Asia—where vaccination campaigns remain in their early stages—is creating new bottlenecks in the global supply chain, threatening to push up prices and weigh on the post-pandemic recovery.
ITF wins freedom for hunger-striking seafarers after two years trapped on the ULA | ITF Seafarers – 16th June
Nineteen seafarers from India, Bangladesh, Turkey and Azerbaijan will be able to see their families again this week after the ITF’s advocacy brought their two-year ordeal to a close. One member of the MV ULA (IMO: 8102414) crew had even been trapped aboard the ship for 31 months.
Covid outbreaks in Chinese ports could cause global goods shortages | The Guardian – 16th June
Combination of rise in demand for products as some countries reopen and lockdowns in some port cities mean prices could climb
Denmark leads Paris MoU performance white list | Lloyd’s List – 16th June
The Paris MoU’s white list of best-performing flags includes Norway and the Marshall Islands, while its black list of worst performers includes Tanzania and Belize
Cameroon, Togo and Comoros feature at the bottom of the black list, ranked as medium-to-high risk, while Albania is categorised as high risk
“Two major problems undermine the IMO’s role as regulator of the shipping industry” | Shipping Watch – 16th June
The IMO’s 2030 plan is drawing fierce criticism from operators and maritime leaders, all agreeing that the deal in no way contributes enough to reduce the level of carbon emissions. The IMO is past its prime as a regulator, says maritime senior executive.
Opinion: This is why almost half of cargo ships are sailing around empty | Market Watch – 16th June
How do transport markets interact with markets for world trade in goods? Changes in demand for products as countries unevenly recover and emerge from pandemic lockdowns have led to dramatic increases in the cost of shipping for both commodities and manufactured goods.
ITF points to flag failings in abandoned crew ordeal | Lloyd’s List – 17th June
The International Transport Workers’ Federation union has fought for the release of 19 seafarers abandoned on a Palau-flagged bulker off Iran and then Kuwait since July 2019
The seafarers, mostly from India, went on hunger strike earlier this year because their pleas for owed wages, repatriation, and provisions had been dragging on


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With a combination of a picture of an Evangelion in the backdrop of a shot of Dartford's Bluewater shopping centre, we now have ourselves another anime license from new distributor Animatsu Entertainment courtesy of their teasing via Instagram.
Thus, we can confirm that the company will be releasing GAINAX's classic Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water in the UK during the second quarter of 2015. Animatsu Entertainment have confirmed that the series will be released on both DVD and Blu-ray, with exact release dates and strategy yet to be confirmed.
EDIT (05/03/2015): It's now been confirmed that the series will be released as DVD and Blu-ray Complete Collections, to be released on Monday, 1st June 2015.
Are you excited for this acquisition? Let us know in the comments!


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IT’S LABOR DAY. THE LAST LONG weekend of the summer. Which means its your last chance to get a good weekend trip in. But where to go?
Kayak, the travel booking site, went through their data and broke down the top trending destinations by state. The findings are interesting — interest in traveling to London has grown in the wake of Brexit, Cuba is getting a lot of buzz, and people are really getting into San Diego. Here’s a state-by-state breakdown.


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Buffalo, NY–The executives of Stampede Presentation Products have bought the company from its previous majority shareholder, the British based VPH Group. The deal, which had been in the works for the past few months, became official last week.
The change in ownership will consolidate decision making at the operational level, allowing the executives to initiate new programs with manufacturers and customers. Over the past business quarter, Stampedes managers began implementing their new growth plan.
We have a vision for expanding Stampede and making it more prominent within the industry, said Mark Wilkins, president and CEO of Stampede. Taking over ownership of the company gives us the autonomy to respond to the North American marketplace in flexible ways. We have begun to put some of our plans into action, and in the coming months our customers are going to see an invigorated Stampede more offering creative solutions to their needs.
The change of ownership has already proven to be great for business. We began implementing new policies and programs a few months ago when the transition started, and as a result our North American sales have increased more than 25 percent over the past four months, said Kevin Kelly, vice president of sales and marketing for Stampede. We are anxious to beef up our sales force and develop new programs with our manufacturers in the coming months.
Stampede is a distributor of presentation and home theater products including LCD projectors and thin plasma monitors. Stampede provides a complete range of brand name equipment including NEC, InFocus, Mitsubishi and Hitachi to a
variety of audio-video and computer resellers in the United States and Canada.
After having lead Maverick, another VPH Group presentation technology distributor, to number-one status in the United Kingdom, Mark Wilkins came to the United States in 1997 to establish Stampede on behalf of VPH. Stampede has grown to become a leading distributor of presentation
technology in North America with offices in Buffalo, N.Y. and Toronto, Ontario and five warehouses throughout the United States and Canada.


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Uber is bolstering its driverless vehicle push in a major way. The ride-hailing platform has agreed to purchase 24,000 Volvo-branded SUVs that’ll be used as the basis for an autonomous auto fleet.
The premium XC90 SUV carries a base retail price of around $47,000 in the US. Uber will be purchasing the vehicles between 2019 and 2021, staggering the rollout over multiple years. Volvo said the base vehicles incorporate all necessary safety, redundancy and core autonomous driving technologies and will be ready for Uber to add their own self-driving tech.
Uber’s current business model relies almost exclusively on ordinary people that choose to drive for the company to make money (as independent contractors, not employees). Unsurprisingly, this is Uber’s biggest expense and one they could eliminate entirely by moving to self-driving vehicles.
Of course, autonomous SUVs are just a stepping stone in Uber’s eventual goal of creating a drone-based taxi service that’ll zip customers to their destinations through the air rather than drive them on the street. Uber recently partnered with NASA on a plan to bring flying taxis to Los Angeles by 2020 although personally, that date seems a little early.


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SINGAPORE — Google’s monopoly over Android — the mobile working system stale by most smartphones world large — is a serious problem for Indian delivery-ups, a high executive at online payments agency Paytm acknowledged Tuesday.
Paytm has develop into a ubiquitous name in India’s digital payments sector. The mobile app is stale by hundreds of thousands of Indians to pay for things including utility bills, groceries, recharging mobile connections, or film tickets. Paytm is additionally a fully licensed digital bank.
Closing Friday, the app used to be temporarily removed from the Google Play Store. Paytm acknowledged the U.S. tech huge suggested the Indian tech agency its app contained “mumble that does no longer adjust to (Google’s) Playing policy.”
On the the same day, Google acknowledged in a separate blog submit it doesn’t allow online casinos or make stronger any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports activities making a bet. It did no longer name Paytm, however Reuters reported that the U.S. tech huge confirmed the app’s elimination as a result of policy violations.
Paytm had to remove away a cashback campaign sooner than the app used to be restored on the Google Play Store about eight hours later, in step with Madhur Deora, president of Paytm.
“I have we are targeted on some of the greater questions that this raises, which is that successfully, Google has a monopoly on the Android ecosystem in India, which is 95% of phone customers. And they’ll fundamentally take what policies they ought to invent and the most practical doubtless method arbitrarily they ought to set aside in force them,” Deora acknowledged on CNBC’s “Avenue Indicators Asia.”
“That’s a huge sword that is hanging over the necks of all Indian delivery-usawho are innovating for India, that Google can one day take that they now no longer love your app and successfully remove away accept admission to to it,” he added.
Google did no longer true now answer to CNBC’s requests for feedback on Deora’s assertions.
A customer makes exercise of an Indian Rupee banknote to pay for a decide as a signal for PayTM online fee manner is displayed at a stall promoting snacks in Bengaluru, India.
Dhiraj Singh | Bloomberg | Getty Photos
Deora additionally claimed there had been “determined conflicts of passion” and that Google’s come by apps compete in areas love cloud storage, maps, e-mail, payments and commerce with others which can almost definitely maybe almost definitely be listed on the Play Store.
“We lawful assumed that Google is going to come by glorious governance and they procedure no longer appear to be going to be pushed by industrial passion, they’re exclusively going to be purely pushed by interests of the ecosystem. While over and over and once more, they’ve confirmed that is no longer the case,” he acknowledged.
In a blog submit explaining the incident, Paytm acknowledged it launched a campaign on Sept. 11 the set up customers might maybe almost definitely maybe almost definitely gain cricket stickers and scratch playing cards to take cashbacks within the occasion that they made bill payments or transferred money using its app.
“We had been pressured to adjust to Google’s mandate of eradicating our UPI cashback offer and scratch playing cards to accept re-listed,” Paytm acknowledged within the submit. The Indian firm insisted it operated “interior pointers, as well to all guidelines of the land” and acknowledged that identical cashback campaigns had been being supplied by Google’s come by payments app, Google Pay.
“Presumably, such cashback campaigns of Google Pay are no longer in breach of Play Store policies, or even they’re, however a particular region of tips practice to Google’s come by apps,” Paytm wrote in its blog submit.
Recordsdata residing TechCrunch reported that two other folks accustomed to the matter acknowledged Paytm had persistently violated Play Store’s policies.
Google and Paytm are within the within the period in-between competing to invent more customers in India’s substantial digital payments market. A shift to online transactions used to be accelerated since 2016, after India demonetized and changed a few of its gigantic-denomination bank notes that ended in a non everlasting currency shortage. That pushed many miniature agencies to adopt digital fee conceivable choices equivalent to Paytm.
Deora suggested CNBC that Paytm might maybe almost definitely maybe almost definitely remove Google on within the payments sector and take — if it used to be a level playing field.
“However it certainly gets a miniature bit trickier within the occasion that they can make exercise of their market dominance to advertise sure apps versus different apps and within the occasion that they shall be, successfully, antagonistic to sure apps and within the occasion that they can come by policies which can almost definitely maybe almost definitely be no longer going to be ruled by the guidelines of the nation. Then or no longer it is a complete different game,” he acknowledged, adding that stakeholders ought to identify what the glorious balance ought to be.
The U.S. tech huge is additionally going thru an antitrust probe in India. Reuters reported in late May maybe maybe additionally that the nation’s antitrust physique used to be having a explore into allegations that Google used to be abusing its market design to unfairly promote its Google Pay app in India. Two months later in July, Google stepped up its dedication to India by saying this can exercise around $10 billion within the nation over the following five to seven years.
India is a profitable market for many tech companies as a result of it has a gigantic and comparatively tech savvy young inhabitants that is lawful coming online, many of them thru smartphones for the fundamental time.
As such, tech companies come by poured billions of bucks into their India operations — love Amazon — or come by bought or backed native Indian delivery-ups. U.S. tech companies, particularly, are going thru another to present a decide to their positions in India after the authorities earlier this year supplied restrictions around investments from Chinese language companies, many of which come by backed the nation’s tech delivery-ups.
Truly, Paytm’s proprietor One97 Communications, which has a valuation of $16 billion, is backed by Chinese language e-commerce huge Alibaba.
Prakash Singh | AFP | Getty Photos
Google’s showdown with Paytm resonates with a identical faceoff between Apple’s App Store and Narrative Video games, the maker of the extremely well-liked Fortnite game.
Apple and Narrative Video games are caught in a lawful fight which started closing month when game-maker printed a model of Fortnite to the App Store that integrated a manner for customers to pay for in-game mumble with out giving Apple its well-liked 30% decrease. Apple remove away the app from the App Store and Narrative Video games sued the tech huge later that day. Therefore, Apple filed a response and counterclaims alleging a breach of contract and is reportedly in quest of an unspecified quantity in damages.
Paytm’s founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma used to be requested by native media if he would remove lawful recourse in opposition to Google. He suggested Indian newspaper, The Financial Times, that all choices had been delivery.


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AVMA, Fort Dodge launch Being a Pet Is Risky Business
The AVMA and Fort Dodge Animal Health on June 18 announced a new National Pet Wellness educational campaign to raise consumer
Behavior assessment tool may help shelter adoptions
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has incorporated a canine aggression assessment tool
Fighting cancer in dogs
One in four dogs will die of cancer, according to the Morris Animal Foundation.
Clinics-only Web area a new resource for pet wellness campaign
The National Pet Wellness Month campaign is a clinic-centered educational initiative designed to raise consumer awareness about wellness examinations
Pet dental health campaign 2002 continues strong
Since 1995, the AVMA, American Veterinary Dental Society, and Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. have co-sponsored Pets Need Dental Care, Too campaign
Wolf and wolf-dog crosses not eligible to be added to dog vaccine labels
A concern that including wolf and wolf-crosses in the definition of dog sends a misleading message
People and Pets, The Perfect Combination: National Pet Week 2001 - January 1, 2001
posted on December 15, 2000 Pet-related booklets compiled by Dr. Don Owen's daughter's grade-school class are popular reading material in his…
Model dog and cat ordinance expanded
The Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine recommended additions to the Model Dog and Cat Control Ordinance.


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GoDaddy Inc., the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs, announced that GoDaddy Venture Forward, a multiyear research effort to quantify the impact online microbusinesses have on their local economies, has partnered with Mastercard’s City Possible program, a partnership and co-creation initiative that brings cities, companies and communities together to identify common challenges and co-develop solutions that advance inclusive and sustainable development.
Marketing Technology News: Strata Introduces Identity Orchestration Platform for Multi-Clouds
The partnership will grant City Possible members access to GoDaddy’s Venture Forward data* through the Mastercard City Insights Digital Marketplace. Since 2018, GoDaddy has analyzed the economic impact of the 20 million microbusinesses its customers have created across the country and has looked at data from over 30,000+ zip codes, 3,000+ counties and 900+ city regions. GoDaddy’s Venture Forward data has revealed the outsized economic impact of everyday entrepreneurs and laid the groundwork for policy makers and elected officials to build stronger, more inclusive local economies.
“Venture Forward is empowering local governments and economic developers with the data and insights they need to better support the microbusinesses in their communities and the people behind them,” said Alexandra Rosen, Director of Venture Forward at GoDaddy. “Joining Mastercard’s City Possible initiative allows us to better connect with companies, municipalities and communities with aligned goals, and most importantly, to build awareness for the economic impact microbusinesses make in communities throughout the United States.”
Marketing Technology News: MarTech Interview with Navdeep Saini, Co-founder and CEO at DistroScale
“We are thrilled to share GoDaddy’s important research with our global network of cities and partner members,” said Miguel Gamino, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Partnerships and Head of Global Cities, at Mastercard. “Leaders from cities, businesses and academics are working to create and pilot innovative solutions that promote inclusive entrepreneurship and economic development in communities. Including GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research brings us one step closer in achieving that goal.”